Challenge


Challenge Trials Set for Turf Paradise on Saturday
Specials Gold will attempt to defend his title in Saturday’s Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge (G3) trials.

© Coady Photography
Challenge Trials Set for Turf Paradise on Saturday

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

PHOENIX, AZ—SEPTEMBER 17, 2014—Gilbert Jasso’s Specials Gold will attempt to defend his title in Saturday’s Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge (G3) trials.

A gelded son of the Shazoom stallion Voghts Gold trained by Jose Botello, Special Gold will be making the first start of his 5-year-old season from post 3 in the second of two 440-yard trials. Special Gold has earned $106,959 from 25 races, and his four wins include a victory in last year’s Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge.

Special Gold’s six opponents in heat 2 include Darian Burt’s Jesscuzican, a homebred 5-year-old Feature Mr Jess stallion trained by Jason Giles. Jesscuzican is coming off of a second-place finish to DM Streakn Thru Fire in the 440-yard, $200,000 All American Gold Cup (G1) at Ruidoso Downs on August 30.

Trainer Dean Frey will send out Grade 1 qualifier Zoomdasher in the first trial for owner Ugo de la Torre. A 5-year-old daughter of Azoom, Zoomdasher was a finalist in the 2012 Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1).

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $60,000-added Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge on October 4.

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Also on Saturday, a total of 19 2-year-olds have been entered in two 350-yard John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge trials.

Norma Reyes’ Smoke On The Water, a stakes-winning gelding by Spit Curl Jess conditioned by Benito Guillen Vega, drew post 6 in the second heat. Smoke On The Wager has won three of five races, including the April 28, 300-yard AQRA Spring Futurity at Turf Paradise, and he has earned $74,957.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will face off in the October 4, $20,000-added final.

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All Turf Paradise races can been seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.